SUBSTITUTES aren’t impacting games in a way that can help Swindon Town increase their points return as a direct result of second-half performances, according to manager Richie Wellens.

Stats back up Wellens’ claim.

In all competitions this season, the Town boss has made 41 substitutes – each substitute averaging 21 minutes of play.

Furthermore, no player this season chosen by Wellens to come off the bench has scored – all goals to date have been notched by players named in the starting XI.

Given Town’s current position inside League Two’s play-off frame, the above is no great cause for concern.

But as injuries and suspensions play an exponential role, the Town boss will no doubt be turning to the likes of Michael Doughty, Adam May and Kaiyne Woolery – his most used substitutes – to play an improved role.

He said: “I’m not seeing enough quality from my substitutes.

“We made two substitutions on Saturday (Michael Doughty and Kaiyne Woolery), did they have an impact on our performance? A little bit.

“I’m the manager, and the game never lies. What I see on the pitch and in training never lies.

“If you train to a certain standard every day, it won’t be a shock to your body when you go out onto the pitch because it’s wired into your body.

“If you train at 50 per cent, you’ll be found out on the pitch. I expect more.

“Kaiyne should’ve continued his run when Eoin set him up. Okay, he stopped – but where was the reaction?

“If his reaction is positive, we might nick the ball off Plymouth and win a throw in.”

Promising striker Scott Twine, who penned a two-and-a-half-year contract with Town in February, is one fringe player finding breaking into the first team tough – due to hot competition for places.

The 20-year-old has made one start this season (in Town’s 3-0 Carabao Cup loss to Colchester) and appeared as a substitute five times.

Wellens insists Twine’s time will come. But, right now, he needs proven players at this level.

“It’s tough to get Scott (Twine) in, I’m not going to lie,” said Wellens.

“We’ve got Keshi Anderson, Michael Doughty, my front two (Eoin Doyle and Jerry Yates) and Kaiyne Woolery.

“I would like to give Scott more opportunities, but Saturday’s game against Plymouth was quick and intense.

“We need to be patient with Scott, his chance will come.

“But we need proven players out on the pitch that are used to that tempo and that atmosphere.

“From one to 11 we put a shift in. But I don’t think our substitutes were as good as Plymouth’s.”